Was it worth it?

Tuesday

Jun 29, 2010 at 12:01 AMJun 29, 2010 at 12:09 PM

LetOhioVote.org spent at least $1.5 million to scrounge up 321,389 valid signatures from Ohio voters, plus countless more dollars fighting Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's attempts to uncover its funding sources.

LetOhioVote.org spent at least $1.5 million to scrounge up 321,389 valid signatures from Ohio voters, plus countless more dollars fighting Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner's attempts to uncover its funding sources.

The group -- headed by a trio of Ohio conservatives but financially dependent on a shadowy Virginia outfit called New Models -- announced yesterday that it's dropping its ballot challenge to Gov. Ted Strickland's plan for video slot machines at horse-racing tracks. Campaign-finance records show that LetOhioVote.org spent $1,551,000 of New Models' money last year, most of it on a signature-gathering effort. The referendum group hasn't reported its expenditures for this year yet, but it's undoubtedly run up legal bills resisting Brunner's attempts to uncover the mystery contributors to New Models.

Brunner has indicated that she'll continue to probe the matter.

Even though LetOhioVote.org has abandoned its attempt at the November ballot, its spokesman says the effort was worthwhile. Spokesman Carlo LoParo took a $4,000 check from LetOhioVote.org last August. Much of his contact with the media has been to disavow any knowledge of who's paying the bills.

"When you are engaged in activity, at the time you're engaged, you feel it's necessary," LoParo said yesterday.

New Models has declined to comment on whether it feels its money was well-spent. In fact, New Models has declined to comment on anything.